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Uranium mining – a nightmare scenario for water supplies

Canada has no national program to deal with contaminated sites. Abandoned mines and tailings ponds create toxic nightmares, contaminating rivers, lakes and surrounding lands. Local communities are left with the toxic legacy.”

Saskatchewan uranium mines create toxic legacy, Digital Journal  by ■ Kyle Ashmead , 28 Aug 2010, The Keepers of the Water, held a five day conference in Wollaston Lake Saskatchewan. Uranium mining in northern Saskatchewan, as well as other issues were discussed…..Conference attendees discussed many issues affecting the north, not least among them, was uranium mining in Saskatchewan….
…The community where the conference took place is situated in the “heartland” of uranium production in Saskatchewan. As of 2007 Canada accounted for 23% of world uranium production. A lot of areas with uranium deposits have chosen not to develop this resource, because of health and environmental concerns involved with uranium production.

British Colombia has had a uranium moratorium in place since 1977; British Colombia’s moratorium was reaffirmed in 2008. Nova Scotia, Labrador and Virginia all have bans on uranium mining; other areas such as Colorado are considering a ban. Saskatchewan however continues to expand its uranium mining operations……Cameco operates the world’s largest high-grade uranium mine in the world and also has rights to the world’s largest deposit of high grade uranium (as of yet, this site has not been developed), both of these sites are located in northern Saskatchewan.

“Unlike most developed countries

2001 report, ToxiCanada by Minewatch and Sierra Canada. There are legal levels of radiation that people may be exposed to, however scientific research has found that there are no safe levels of radiation. “Radiation contaminated fish are not accepted for commercial sale, so there is concern across northern Saskatchewan that uranium contamination from tailings sites may destroy the commercial fisheries……..
Saskatchewan uranium mines create toxic legacy (Includes interview)

August 28, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, Uranium, water | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, radiation, radioactive, uranium